Tamil Nadu Finance Minister N Marie Wilson’s claim that he was forced to pay a substantial bribe to get approvals from the School Education Department in the DMK government at that time has erupted into a political firestorm in the state. Wilson said in the Tamil Nadu Assembly he was willing to face any probe and give details about the alleged payment.
The Minister’s statement has served as fresh ammunition to the Opposition that demands the allegations be investigated by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC). And this has also put pressure on the TVK led government to state whether it intends to investigate the allegations and take action against those who were involved.
Wilson said in the Assembly on Tuesday he had paid a “huge sum” to officials in the School Education Department for approvals connected to his institutions in Chennai during the earlier DMK administration. He said he was not repeating information from someone else but was himself a person with direct knowledge of the alleged transaction.
Wilson said: “I am the evidence, I am the witness… I am ready to face an inquiry,” Wilson said when challenged on his allegations. And his remarks turned the debate into a direct political battle that turned it into one of national political conflict, with the Opposition demanding he substantiate his assertions in front of an investigating body of inquiry.
Wilson also challenged former School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi to investigate the matter. When asked about another payment at a place called “Global” in T Nagar, Wilson said he would be willing to disclose the amount he allegedly had to pay and give further information about the approvals sought by minority educational institutions.
Poyyamozhi, who held the School Education portfolio during the DMK government, rejected Wilson’s allegation and called for an immediate investigation. “A minister who was publicly revealing in the Assembly that he had paid a bribe was a serious matter that has to be investigated by the anti-corruption authorities."
Poyyamozhi specifically said the DVAC must question Wilson first, because the minister had stated himself as being a direct witness to the alleged transaction. According to the former minister, investigators should establish how much money was allegedly paid, to whom it was paid and under what circumstances the payment was made.
The DMK has since called upon the TVK-led government to order a formal investigation into Wilson’s claims. The party has also called for Wilson to be removed from the Cabinet until the investigation is complete. The demand has added another layer to a bitter political dispute between the ruling establishment and the Opposition.
The BJP has also come into the picture, arguing that allegations of bribery can’t be treated in isolation. Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagenthran declared that both giving or receiving a bribe and accepting it are offences and called on the government to take action against everyone involved if the minister’s allegations are proven to be true.
"Giving and receiving a bribe both are crimes,” Nagenthran said, stressing that an investigation should determine the responsibility of all persons linked to the alleged transaction.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Health Minister KG Arunraj defended Wilson and described him as a “whistleblower.” But the description has also added fuel for the debate over whether Wilson’s statement should be viewed as a matter of protection and investigation or an admission that could itself have legal consequences.
So Wilson stayed on the record despite Opposition calls from opponents that he either substantiate the claim or withdraw. Now, his willingness to face an inquiry has become the main point of dispute, with political parties calling for the allegations to be tested in an independent manner rather than as an Assembly question.
At stake are questions about the alleged payment, the identity of the alleged recipient, the kind of approvals sought and whether any officials or intermediaries were involved. The information needed to be established from documentary evidence, witness statements and other investigative material before the allegations could be proved.
The episode has also reopened a larger political debate about corruption and administrative transparency in Tamil Nadu. And with the DMK and BJP demanding action, the TVK-led government has to decide if the allegations merit a formal DVAC inquiry.
The Assembly remarks are allegations for now and responsibility for any wrongdoing will only be established through a thorough investigation and due process. Wilson’s assertion that he is both witness and evidence, however, ensures that the controversy will continue to be a political issue in Tamil Nadu until the government decides to proceed.
